So you’ve done it. You’ve bought a foldable. Congratulations, you’re now one of those people who opens their phone like a book and gets asked “is that one of the folding ones?” at every barbecue for the next six months.

But here’s the thing. Most people set up a new phone, move their apps across, and never go digging for the good stuff. With a foldable, that’s a real waste, because the whole point is doing things a normal phone can’t.

So before you get too comfortable, here are five features I’d try first so you realise just how advanced your Samsung Foldable is!

1. My FanCam (Galaxy Z8 Series)

If you’ve ever filmed your kid at Saturday sport or on-stage at the school performance, you know the problem. They’re moving one way, you’re panning the other, and it’s hard to show your family just how little Johnny did.

My FanCam[1] is available after the video has been taken and is initiated through the Gallery, and is built for exactly these moments. It’s an intelligent reframing tool that keeps your subject in the shot when things are moving around. Netball, junior footy, a mate on stage at the pub. Pick your person, and the phone does the hard work of keeping them front and centre.

This is the one I’d try first. It’s the feature most likely to make you look like you know what you’re doing – it’s unique to Samsung and launched just recently on the Galaxy Z8 series devices.

There is also Auto Framing, which can be accessed through the Camera app when recording a video – and does just that.

2. Now Brief on the FlexWindow (Galaxy Z Flip8)

The outer screen on the Flip8 is now 4.1 inches, and that changes how you use the phone.

Now Brief [2] turns that cover display into something genuinely useful. It’s a set of widgets that serve up what you need, when you need it, without you asking. Your next meeting, the weather before you head out, what’s coming up in your day.

The whole appeal of a Flip is keeping it closed more often. This is the feature that actually lets you do that.

I’ve always loved the Flip form-factor because it can be kept closed far more than you’d think – this just makes the even better.

3. Horizontal Lock (Galaxy Z8 Series)

Super Steady[3] video mode has always been good at smoothing out a shaky walk. Now it goes a step further.

Horizontal Lock keeps your horizon level no matter how you’re holding the phone. Tilt it, twist it, run with it, and the footage stays flat and steady. The Handheld Camera Mode in Galaxy Z Flip8 builds on that for anyone shooting on the move.

It works in an extreme example when you’re running around, or holding your phone up high at a concert, but it also works when you’re just walking or moving a little and want to really nail that horizon.

4. Multi- Window (Galaxy Z8 Series)

This is where the Galaxy Z8 series earns its keep.

Samsung has seriously upgraded how split screen works on that big inner display. On the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, you can have one larger app alongside two smaller windows, while the Galaxy Z Fold8 lets you run up to three apps side by side in a layout that feels a lot more like a desktop than a phone.

Email in one pane, a document in another, your calendar in the third. If you’ve ever tried to reply to something while checking a detail somewhere else, you’ll get it instantly. For anyone who works from their phone, this is the feature that justifies your choice of a Samsung foldable.

And another thing – you can create favourites for the app pair so if you use email and calendar apps side by side, you can create an App Pair and save it to either the taskbar or the Edge Panel so next time you can open it with one touch.

5. Now Nudge AI Continuity (Galaxy Z8 Series)

The last one is the smartest, and the easiest to miss.

Now Nudge [4] is baked into One UI 9 on the Fold8, Fold8 Ultra and Flip8. It reads what’s on your screen, works out what you’re trying to do, and offers to help. Only when it’s actually useful.

Here’s how it works. A mate texts asking if you’re free for dinner Friday. Normally you’d jump out to your calendar, check, jump back, reply, then go hunting for the restaurant’s address. With Now Nudge, the phone suggests opening your calendar right alongside the chat. Unfold it, check you’re free, reply, and pin the venue in Maps without leaving the conversation.

Same deal if someone sends through  details for a weekend away. Now Nudge will offer to add the event into your calendar and Maps so they’re there when you need them. This will open up right alongside the chat window rather than having to leave the conversation.

Start it on the cover screen, unfold, and everything carries straight across to the big display. No copying, no pasting, no app juggling.

It’s quiet, it’s genuinely useful, and once you notice it working you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

The bottom line

A foldable isn’t just a bigger phone or a smaller phone. It’s a different way of using one. Spend ten minutes with these five features and you’ll get a lot more out of the money you’ve spent.

And yes, you’ll still get asked about it at every barbecue.

This article was written with support from Samsung, helping us bring you information you need by prioritising our time.

[1] Results may vary depending on shooting conditions and environment. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.

[2] Now Brief feature requires Samsung Account login. Available functions and features may vary by country, region, language, device model, and app. Some features may require a network connection. Customised briefing content provided is based only on the personal information to which the user has consented. Accuracy of generated results is not guaranteed.

[3] Super Steady results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions.

[4] Now Nudge feature requires a Samsung Account login. Available functions and features may vary by country, region, and language. Text message prompts are available with Samsung Messages and certain third-party messaging apps including Samsung Messages, Google Messages, and Google Chat. Split view supported apps may vary. Photo sharing in Now Nudge works by analysing available image content. Accuracy of results is not guaranteed.